2018 NFL Draft Report Card

The NFLDraft is over so let’s take a look at the first three picks for each team and assign a report card grade to each team.

HIGH HONORS (A average)

Cleveland Browns Top Picks:

Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield (No. 1 overall)

Ohio State CB Denzel Ward (No. 4 overall)

Nevada OG Austin Corbett (No. 33 overall)

Georgia RB Nick Chubb (No. 35 overall)

Draft grade: A Thoughts- They got the big prize with the #1 selection of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Then in the fourth selected they got a workhorse to hand the ball to with running back Nick Chubb.

Philadelphia EaglesTop 3 Picks:

South Dakota State TE Dallas Goedert (No. 49 overall)

Pittsburgh CB Avonte Maddox (No. 125 overall)

Florida State DE Josh Sweat (No. 130 overall)

Draft grade: A Thoughts- The Eagles were shrewd to grab the second pick for next year from the Ravens and still get some players. Josh Sweat is a monster defensive end that will get playing time from the Super Bowl Champs.

Tennessee TitansTop 3 Picks:

Alabama LB Rashaan Evans (No. 22 overall)

Boston College edge rusher Harold Landry (No. 41 overall)

Arizona S Dane Cruikshank (No. 152 overall)Draft grade: A Thoughts- Tennessee traded up and got an inside linebacker to help offset the departure of Avery Williamson. He will make an instant impact on this team

Denver Broncos Top 3 Picks:

N.C. State edge rusher Bradley Chubb (No. 5 overall)

SMU WR Courtland Sutton (No. 40 overall)

Oregon RB Royce Freeman (No. 71 overall)

Draft grade: AThoughts- Their first pick was spot-on. He has great value and will team with Von Miller together and the defense is awesome. Picking Sutton second was a stroke of luck as he is a player that makes good things happen on offense

Arizona Cardinals Top 3 Picks:

UCLA QB Josh Rosen (No. 10 overall)

Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk (No. 47 overall)

Michigan C Mason Cole (No. 97 overall)

Draft grade: A Thoughts- They wanted a passer and they got Rosen. The had to give up a third rounder and a fifth rounder to get the deal. A running back for the second pick was done to replace Larry Fitzgerald upon his retirement.

Carolina Panthers Top 3 Picks:

Maryland WR D.J. Moore (No. 24 overall)

LSU CB Donte Jackson (No. 55 overall)

Tennessee DB Rashaan Gaulden (No. 85 overall)

Draft grade: A Thoughts- Many felt Moore was the best wide receiver available and the Panthers snagged him at 24. Now he can line up for Cam Newton to fire the ball to him. The cornerback from LSU was also a quality pick.

Green Bay PackersTop 3 Picks:

Louisville CB Jaire Alexander (No. 18 overall)

Iowa CB Josh Jackson (No. 45 overall)

Vanderbilt LB Oren Burks (No. 88 overall

Draft grade: A Thoughts- The Packers picked up a first-round pick from the Saints. Jaire Alexander was a great selection and likely second best.

New England Patriots Top 3 Picks:

Georgia OT Isaiah Wynn (No. 23 overall)

Georgia RB Sony Michel (No. 31 overall)

Florida CB Duke Dawson (No. 56 overall

Draft grade: A Thoughts – Wynn is an athletic tackle that can play and do well at any position. He is one nasty player that will be a bit smaller than most at his spot. He should be comfortable as his college teammate was taken in the next round as Michel get his chance to be a top-of-the-line runner and receiver for had coach Bill Belichick.

Baltimore Ravens Top 3 Picks:

South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst (No. 25 overall)

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson (No. 32 overall)

Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown (No. 83 overall)

Draft grade: A- Thoughts- This team traded down twice in the draft and still came away with a talented tight end and a long passer in quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Indianapolis Colts Top 3 Picks:

Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson (No. 6 overall)

South Carolina State LB Darius Leonard (No. 36 overall)

Auburn OG Braden Smith (No. 37 overall)

Draft grade: A-Thoughts- They moved down three slots and received three second round picks. That is a good move. They selected Notre Dame’s offensive guard and then followed with a linebacker anda OC from Auburn. These picks will make a difference.

New York Giants Top 3 Picks:

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley (No. 2 overall)

UTEP OG Will Hernandez (No. 34 overall)

Georgia LB Lorenzo Carter (No. 66 overall)

Draft grade: A-Thoughts- The Giants got their quarterback and a good one with Barkley and Will Hernandez can clear the way for the offense.

Jacksonville JaguarsTop 3 Picks:

Florida DT Taven Bryan (No. 29 overall)

LSU WR D.J. Chark (No. 61 overall)

Alabama S Ronnie Harrison (No. 93 overall)Draft grade: A- Thoughts- Another defensive line player with quality never hurts to have around. The Jags picked from Florida, LSU, and Alabama which are all quality programs.

Chicago BearsTop 3 Picks:

Georgia LB Roquan Smith (No. 8 overall)

Iowa C James Daniels (No. 39 overall)

Memphis WR Anthony Miller (No. 51 overall)

Draft grade: A- Thoughts- Smith can solidify the Bears defense with his speed. He has the talent and was the best player left standing at the 8th pick. The Daniels pick is a bit worrisome as he has had some knee issues in his collegiate career.

HONORS (B average)

Cincinnati Bengals Top 3 Picks:

Ohio State C/OG Billy Price (No. 21 overall)

Wake Forest S Jessie Bates (No. 54 overall)

Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard (No. 77 overall)

Draft grade: B+ Thoughts- The Bengals dropped ten spots and garners Cordy Glenn from the Bills. The offensive line was in need of some improvement and that showed in their selections.

Buffalo Bills Top 3 Picks:

Wyoming QB Josh Allen (No. 7 overall)

Stanford DT Harrison Phillips (No. 96 overall)

Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds (No. 16 overall)

Draft grade: B+ Thoughts- Picking up Allen cost them tackle Cordy Glenn for a swap of picks with the Bengals and will benefit both teams.

Houston TexansTop 3 Picks:

Stanford S Justin Reid (No. 68 overall),

Mississippi State OT Martinas Rankin (No. 80 overall)

UCF TE Jordan Akins (No. 98 overall)

Draft grade: B+Thoughts- The Texans traded away their #4 pick last season to get Deshaun Watson. They didn’t pick until the third round and got a very good safety from Stanford.

Atlanta FalconsTop 3 Picks:

Alabama WR Calvin Ridley (No. 26 overall)

Colorado CB Isaiah Oliver (No. 58 overall)

South Florida DT Deadrin Senat (No. 90 overall

Draft grade: B+ Thoughts- The Falcons failed to meet their most pressing need in the first round which is defense and instead selected wide receiver Calvin Ridley. This is good value and hard to pass up. They followed that pick up with a cornerback that can help right away.

Washington Redskins Top 3 Picks:

Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne (No. 13 overall)

LSU RB Derrius Guice (No. 59 overall)

Louisville OT Geron Christian (No. 74 overall)

Draft grade: B+Thoughts- The Redskins had the worst defense in the league last year and the selection of Payne was to help solidify that. Running back Derriys Guice was a tough tackle in college and Washington hopes that translates into the NFL.

Detroit Lions Top 3 Picks:

Arkansas C/OG Frank Ragnow (No. 20 overall)

Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson (No. 43 overall)

Louisiana-Lafayette DB Tracy Walker (No. 82 overall)Draft grade: B+ Thoughts- Their first pick can play multiple positions and will help the Lions at the line of scrimmage. Kerryon Johnson was selected after Detroit gave up a fourth round pick to move up the eight spots to select the running back from Auburn.

San Francisco 49ers Top 3 Picks:

Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey (No. 9 overall)

Washington WR Dante Pettis (No. 44 overall)

BYU LB Fred Warner (No. 70 overall)

Draft grade: B Thoughts- The first pick is a powerful pass protector and a good pick. A wide receiver at the 2nd pick will be fighting for a spot.

Miami DolphinsTop 3 Picks:

Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 11 overall)

Penn State TE Mike Gesicki (No. 42 overall)

Ohio State LB Jerome Baker (No. 73 overall)

Draft grade: BThoughts- It was likely a mistake to not choose a quarterback in this spot. They are going to wait and see on the health of Ryan Tannehill. But taking Fitzpatrick will take their defense to another level.

Los Angeles Rams Top 3 Picks:

TCU OT Joseph Noteboom (No. 89 overall)

Michigan State C Brian Allen (No. 111 overall)

Stephen F. Austin DE John Franklin-Myers (No. 135 overall)

Draft grade: BThoughts- The Rams made a deal earlier by getting Brandin Cooks and giving the first round and fourth round to the Patriots. Jared Goff will love throwing to Cooks. They wanted a veteran over a rookie.

Los Angeles Chargers Top 3 Picks:

Florida State S Derwin James (No. 17 overall)

USC LB Uchenna Nwosu (No. 48 overall)

N.C. State DT Justin Jones (No. 84 overall)

Draft grade: B Thoughts- Derwin James fits into the Chargers system very well as he is athletic, and fast.. This was a needed selection.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Top 3 Picks:

Washington DT Vita Vea (No. 12 overall)

USC RB Ronald Jones (No. 38 overall)

North Carolina DB M.J. Stewart (No. 53 overall)

Draft grade: BThoughts- Tampa Bay needed defensive help and chose Vea or Derwin James. Running back Ronald Jones from USC should get some times in a backup role next year

Pittsburgh SteelersTop 3 Picks:

Virginia Tech S Terrell Edmunds (No. 28 overall)

Oklahoma State WR James Washington (No. 60 overall)

Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph (No. 76 overall

Draft grade: B Thoughts- Another Edmunds in the NFL as the Steelers surprised many people and chose the brother of Tremaine Edmunds. From their, they selected teammates from Oklahoma State in a receiver and a quarterback.

New York JetsTop 3 Picks:

USC QB Sam Darnold (No. 3 overall)

Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd (No. 72 overall)

Miami TE Christopher Herndon (No. 107 overall)

Draft grade: B-Thoughts- They gave up three second round picks to get Darnold as their quarterback and that appears steep. But with all reports, time will tell. It was possible he could have been available at their original draft position.

Minnesota Vikings Top 3 Picks:

UCF CB Mike Hughes (No. 30 overall)

Pittsburgh OT Brian O’Neill (No. 62 overall)

Ohio State DE Jalyn Holmes (No. 102 overall

Draft grade: B- Thoughts- Hughes may be a bit undersized for the NFL and brings with him some personal baggage. O’Neill needs to beef up and get stronger

Kansas City Chiefs Top 3 Picks:

Mississippi LB Breeland Speaks (No. 46 overall)

Florida State DT Derrick Nnadi (No. 75 overall)

Clemson LB Dorian O’Daniel (No. 100 overall)

Draft grade: B- Thoughts- The Chiefs traded up last year in the draft to select Patrick Mahomes. The first three that they selected come from Mississippi, Florida State, and Clemson which produce top football talent.

Dallas CowboysTop 3 Picks:

Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch (No. 19 overall)

Texas OG Connor Williams (No. 50 overall)

Colorado State WR Michael Gallup (No. 81 overall)

Draft grade: BThoughts- This was a classic case of picking the best available. Their top pick is a very good linebacker and won’t embarrass them but the clear need was a pass catcher which came in the third round.

MISSED HONOR ROLL (C average)

New Orleans Saints Top 3 Picks:

UTSA edge rusher Marcus Davenport (No. 14 overall)

UCF WR Tre’Quan Smith (No. 91 overall)

Florida State OT Rick Leonard (No. 127 overall)

Draft grade: C Thoughts- The Saints messed up when they traded their first pick in next year’s draft and fifth pick this year just to get Marcus Davenport. He is a talented pass rusher but they gave up too much. Selected the UCF Knights wide receiver was a solid decision and should play next season.

Seattle Seahawks Top 3 Picks:

San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny (No. 27 overall)

USC DE Rasheem Green (No. 79 overall)

Washington TE Will Dissly (No. 120 overall)

Draft grade: C Thoughts- This just didn’t make sense to trade down but running back Penny is a decent pick but could have been had later.

Oakland RaidersTop 3 Picks:

UCLA OT Kolton Miller (No. 15 overall

Sam Houston State DT P.J. Hall (No. 57 overall)

North Carolina A&T OT Brandon Parker (No. 65 overall)

Draft grade: C-Thoughts- Taking Kolton Miller was a surprise to many because he was not projected to go in the first round. In fact, the Raiders may have whiffed on all three of their picks.

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